Apparatus for conveying and distributing papers and the like.



W. M. HASBERG & A. W. SWANLUND.

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND DISTRIBUTING PAPERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14.19I4. 1 15? 8%5, Patented 001;. 26, 1915.

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W. M. HASBERG & A. W. SWANLUND.

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND msmsunwe PAPERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 19:4. 1 15,65, Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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WILLIAM'M. ,HASIBERG AND .AXEL W. SWANLUND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYI N Gr AND DISTRIBUTING PAPERS AND THE LIKE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ea. as, was.

Application filed March 14, 1914. Serial No. 824,607.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. I-IAs- BERG and AXEL W. SWANLUND, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county-of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Conveying and Distributing Papers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for conveying letters-merchandise orders and other papers from a given point to a plurality of stations (which stations may be the desks of clerks among whom the work of handling the-orders or other papers is divided upon a geographical or other basis) and, if desired, for returning the papers to the starting point, for filing.

The object of the invention isto simplify the means for conveying the papers, and to prevent the papers from fouling on any part of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus embodying the features of our invention, parts being broken away to shorten the view. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane of dotted line 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view taken in the plane of dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5, taken together, constitute a top plan view of the apparatus.

The embodiment herein shown of our invention is an elongated apparatus arranged to extend between two rows of desks or other stations. The framework 1 of the apparatus may be of any suitable or preferred construction. Upon the framework is supported a horizontal table 2 extending longitudinally of the apparatus and provided with a plurality of longitudinal partitions 3. The partitions 3 are suiiicient in number to provide a passageway or guideway 4 for each receiving station. These stations are located at opposite sides of the apparatus and at different distances from the head end of the apparatus, the length of each passageway corresponding to the distance between the head end of the apparatus and the respective stations. To produce this differ ence in the length of the passageways, the partitions 3 are made of the proper length, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, and the table 2 is cut away so that the bottom of each passageway terminates opposite its respectlve station.

Each passageway 1 is of such width that single papers or bunches of papers fastened together shall stand on edge in a substantially vertical position when placed in the passageway. It will be understood that if a single sheet bends sufliciently so that a portion of its surfaces lies in contact with the bottom of the passageway, the larger part of the sheet is nevertheless substantially upright. 7

.The means for moving the papers through the passageways l comprises a conveyer consisting of an endless chain or other suitable flexible cable orconnector 5, said chain running over sprocket wheels 6. Certain of these sprocket wheels are arranged so that the upper reach of the chain'extends longitudinally of and above the table 2 and midway of the table. Suitable pusher members such as rods 7 are secured to the chain 5 at suitable intervals, said pusher members extending transversely of the table and being carried by the chain above the partitions 3. The distance of the pushers 7 from the bottoms of the passageways at is such that the pushers engage the papers at about midway of the height of the papers. It will be seen that as the chain 5 moves, the papers will be pushed through the passageways 4:.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the chain 5. Herein we have shown a motor 8 having a driving connection with a sprocket wheel 9 (Fig. 3) over which the chain is arranged to run.

Below the table 2 is a horizontal receiving table 10, extending longitudinally of be provided below the table 10, said passageways extending longitudinally of the apparatus and adjacent to the sides of the framework 1 within convenient reach of the clerks at'the receiving stations. To move the, papers through the passageways 11, the lower reach of the chain is supported to travel adjacent to the plane of said passageways so that the, pushers 7 shall engage the papers in the passageways 11 about midway of the height of the papers. Any suitthrough a plurality of passageways.

the papers through'the passageways is more nearly positive than when the papers rest upon. conveyer belts or the like.

' W e claim as our invention:

Anapparatus for conveying papers and the like having, in combination, a plurality of upwardly opening passageways adapted to receive and guide papers or the like, said passageways terminating at different distances from the head of the apparatus to discharge the papers at different receiving Copies of this patent may be obtained for stations, means beneath said passageways to receive the discharged papers, a lower re-' turn passageway beneath said receiving means, guide wheels at opposite ends of the apparatus, an endless sprocket chain pass ing around said guide wheels with its upper run above the upper passageways, and with its lower run above the lower passageway, the upper and lower runs of the chain being in approximately the same vertical plane, means for driving said chain, and a pluralitv of cross pins carried by said chain, the pins at the upper run of the chain being adapted to engage the papers in the upper passageways and move them toward the receiving stations while the pins in the lower run of the chain are adapted to engage the papers in the lower passageway and move the papers in the opposite directions to the head of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. HASBERG. AXEL W. SVVANLUND.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

